Shloka 1
Prastāra–Naṣṭa Procedures and Enumeration of Chandas
Laghu–Guru Computation
नामैकादशोत्तरद्विशशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / प्रस्तार आद्यगो ऽथो लः परतुल्यो ऽथ पूर्वगः / नष्टमध्ये समेंऽके लः समे ऽर्धे विषमे गुरुः
nāmaikādaśottaradviśaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / prastāra ādyago 'tho laḥ paratulyo 'tha pūrvagaḥ / naṣṭamadhye sameṃ'ke laḥ same 'rdhe viṣame guruḥ
സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇത് ഇരുനൂറ്റി പന്ത്രണ്ടാം അധ്യായം. ‘പ്രസ്താര’ രീതിയിൽ ആദി ചിഹ്നം ‘ല’; തുടർന്ന് മുൻക്രമത്തെ അനുസരിച്ച് വിന്യാസം. ‘നഷ്ട’ (പുനർനിർമ്മാണ) രീതിയിൽ സംഖ്യ സമമായാൽ ‘ല’; അതിന്റെ അർദ്ധവും സമമായാൽ ‘ല’ തന്നെ; വിഷമമായാൽ ‘ഗുരു’ (ദീർഘ) എന്നു കരുതണം.
Sūta
Concept: Prastāra (systematic expansion) and Naṣṭa (reconstruction) procedures using ‘la’ and guru/laghu decisions based on even/odd (parity) of numbers and halves.
Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-niyama (disciplined intellect) and the idea that śabda-structure can be generated/recovered by rule—order underlying apparent complexity.
Application: Apply parity checks to generate or reconstruct metrical patterns; useful for students of prosody and for verifying manuscript readings.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.211.9 (transition from metre types to computational methods); Garuda Purana 1.212.2+ (expected continuation of prastāra/naṣṭa rules in the chapter)
FAQs
This verse frames Prastāra (listing metrical patterns) and Naṣṭa (reconstructing a pattern from an index) as practical rules for handling laghu–guru sequences, supporting correct chandas and precise recitation.
It gives a parity rule: if the index is even, place laghu (la); then examine the half—if the half is even, laghu again; if the half is odd, guru—thus deriving the metrical sequence step-by-step.
Use these rules to verify meter while chanting or editing Sanskrit texts—ensuring syllable-length accuracy (laghu/guru), which improves correctness in mantra, stotra, and śloka recitation.